It wasn’t hard to see why he wanted to kiss her again. Beautiful didn’t do her justice. Yes, her fair hair gleamed under the light from the chandeliers and a figure made for dresses with empire lines drew the attention of every man here from eight-and-ten to eighty. However, it was her ready smile and her quick wit that drew people in.
He could not claim to be immune to either of those traits.
But they were the most excellent of friends and he was not going to ruin that with a kiss. He could kiss dozens of other women. Why would he want to kiss Vi?
A group of tittering women passed them, fans in front of their faces. Flirtatious gazes lingered on him then soured when they looked to Violet. She ignored the stares and the mutterings as usual and took a step back to allow them to pass easily. Duke suspected if she had not moved, she might have received an elbow nudge or two. He let his lips thin. Violet could manage herself but that did not stop him from wanting to throw an acidic comment or two the ladies’ way.
“Oh drat.”
He looked away from the women to find Violet backed herself into a large potted plant. One of the spiky fronds pierced her coiled chignon. Violet pulled against the hold the fern had upon her then staggered back a step.
“Keep still, you’re making it worse.”
She tugged again, taking a step forward and curls unraveled from the delicate jeweled clasp at the back of her head. Duke put his hands to her shoulders and urged her back. She looked up at him.
Christ. All arguments against kissing her fled his mind once more. Did it matter if she was an innocent? That she was unwed and that if they were caught, he’d be forced into matrimony or risk leaving her ruined? Who cared if their friendship would be wrecked forever? It would all be worth it for another kiss of that delicate mouth surely?
“Duke,” she whispered.
The strains of the music, the vibrations of stomping feet, and the laughter and clapping of the dancers filtered in. He released her shoulders and moved behind her.
“Just stay still for one moment. I shall rescue you.”
“From a fern?”
He nodded. “I shall do battle with this blackguard of a plant on your behalf,” he quipped but the words fell flat.
Her curls were silken against his kid gloves, and he paused to remove them and stuff them in his waistcoat pocket. “What a mess you’ve made,” he said, eyeing the tangle of fair hair and green leaves.
“It’s hardly my fault. Who even decided the assembly hall needed plants? There is little enough room for dancing as it is.”
“Blame one of the patronesses.” He tugged on a curl and grimaced as it failed to come free. “I believe they thought it would look pleasant and keep away the rabble.”
“Plants keep away the rabble? Who knew?”
“Well will you risk taking on a plant again?”
She laughed. “I suppose if it keeps the scandalous Musgraves away, it’s probably worth it.”
Duke smirked. Violet always took her family’s reputation in her stride. In many ways, it did not affect her as much as her parents or sisters. At least when it came to the male of the species anyway. The behavior from that group of ladies was not an uncommon occurrence but Violet refused to let him intervene on her behalf. It always struck him as odd how welcome he was in the ballrooms of Bath and London given his reputation for scandal over Violet’s, but he imagined being a man—a wealthy one at that—had a lot to do with it.
“You’re free,” he declared, letting the last curl drop from his fingers.
“My hero!” Violet put a hand to her hair.
Yes, your hero, he wanted to say.Yours and yours alone.
It was nonsense of course and the words remained where they should be—in his mind. He was not the marrying or even the mistress type. He never really had been. It seemed easier and more pleasurable to flit from woman to woman without worrying about the complex emotions that seemed to come with entanglements.
“What a disaster.” She huffed out a breath while she attempted to shove the curls back into the clip.
“I can tell you never have to do your hair alone.” He eyed the mess she’d made.
She rolled her eyes at him. “And I suppose you are well-versed in the duties of a lady’s maid.”
“I’ve been known to fix a lady’s hair a time or two yes.”
“But of course, you have.”